Alternate Austro-Hungarian offensive 1916

  • Thread starter Deleted member 1487
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Deleted member 1487

What if instead of attacking Italy near Asiago, Conrad was persuaded to launch an attack against the Russians? I am assuming that German forces in the area would be assisting, adding to the combat power of the Austrians. So would this attack have made a difference to how the year played out on the eastern front? Could the Austrians then have convinced Falkenhayn to release some of the reserves that he was being so tight-fisted with?

The obvious benefits for the Austrians include not having a reduced force to fight with, being on the attack means they can concentrate and dictate the battle instead of having to react to a disaster/excellent tactics of Brusilov. Also being the attack makes it somewhat more difficult for mass surrenderings that plagued the Austrian defense against the Russians. This is not to say that they won't happen, but that it is less likely to happen as the opportunities might not be as favorable to surrender. Of course deserters might give away the offensive, which makes things harder, but if the Germans are used as the shock troops/spearhead, then some of that particular problem is reduced.

However there are consequences for the Austrians in Italy. By not chewing up Italian units in the Asiago offensive, the next Italian offensive might come at an inopportune time during the East Front battle. On the plus side Romania is likely not to jump in without the massive Russian success, but at the same time, all the captured grain and oil is not available to the Central Powers, that is unless the Romanians decide to throw in against the Russians, which may happen if they consider Russia to be a lost cause.


Overall, I am going to count this as a net plus for the Central Powers, but the likelyhood for Conrad being convinced that this would be the better choice is unlikely. Thoughts?
 
The Austrians had sent their best units to the Italian front in 1916. What remained opposite the Russians was third and fourth class only - that explains the overall success of the Brusilov offensive more than anything else.
There would be no need for the Austrians to go to the offensive, it just would suffice to leave the good units in the east.
 
The Austro-German forces could have knocked the Italians out of the war if they really recognized how vulnerable Italy was. An attack along the Isonzo River is necessary to releave continueing and building Italian pressure. Its pretty likely that an attack thru the Asiago region could have dealt the Italians a knock out blow.
 

Deleted member 1487

OTL the offensive through the Asiago bogged down and fell apart. The question was if with German assistance the offensive could have worked....
but I am interested if an Austrian offensive would have forstalled the Brusilov offensive.
 
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